Following his gaze, I saw my sister and her fiance climbing down the stairs. In a yellow sundress and a matching hat, she looked stunning as ever. And Caleb chose to flaunt a white Tee and jeans.
And here I was. In a black tank and leather jacket, paired with worn out shorts and sneakers, I didn't even try to doll up a little.
"Sorry, guys! Got stuck with the traffic," Caleb apologized, greeting Tobias with a side hug. And the same with Warner, but when it came to my turn, he engulfed me in a tight bear hug. "I'm glad that you came, Em. Finally I will get to spend some time with my would be sister-in-law and long lost friend."
I smiled. "It's great to see you again. And don't worry, you're not late. The race is about to start."
"I thought you wouldn't come. But I'm happy to see you here," Tess said, giving me a hug. And I didn't reciprocate.
Tobias and Caleb saw the act, but didn't comment on it.
Once we were all seated, in no time the race began. Every one of the horses were extremely good and competitive. Their Jockeys were guiding them with brilliance. But the teeth and nail race was between two red and black horses. They both were ahead in the race than the others.
I was cheering for the red one, Jordan. Not because the black one, Cage, was any less good or beautiful. Because I just happened to love the color red.
"Yes! Go Jordan, go! You can do it!" Tess yelled out beside me. She was also on my team, for the first time in our life. Where Tobias, Warner were encouraging a different one. And Caleb just watched all of it silently.
"Which one are you betting for?" I almost screamed over the loud cheerings.
"None! Because I know who is gonna win," he shouted back, beside Tess.
"Really? Which one?" I ducked away from Tess's elbow. She was leaping with cheerings.
"Jordan. He is a winner," he replied.
"How do you know? It can be a different one this time."
His brown eyes locked with me. "I know because my cousin never loses. And that-" he pointed towards the horse that was now slightly ahead of the Cage. Even a white one now was giving them competition, "-is Achilles' horse. He always bets on Jordan."
My lips parted in surprise. Ace's horse? That means, he was here?
My nerves pulsed, eyes looking around. He was nowhere in the auditorium. But the owner of the horses, the bettors never sat at the auditorium with ordinary people. Then my gaze lifted up.
And there he was. High in the V.I.P section, shielded by glass, he stood even higher with his proud chest and powerful broad shoulders with hands in pockets. Some other suited people stood behind him, watching the race unfolding. I couldn't see where his eyes were as he wore sunglasses.
His name thoroughly did justice to his personality.
I shook my head and fisted my hands. Get to your senses, Em!
I didn't know he was gonna be here. Otherwise I wouldn't have come. Now I didn't like that red horse at all. I'd rather support the white one as it now passed the black one, Cage.
My sister continued to dance. Now I understood why she was on Jordan's side.
"For a moment I thought Cage would surpass Jordan. Damn, he was good," commented Warner, while Tobias munched on Popcorns.
That brat! He definitely knew Ace was gonna present here, but he didn't even think of informing me. Noticing my glare, he raised a brow. To avoid Warner's overhearing, I pointed to his phone.
He is here. And you didn't care to inform me!
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